Mandatory Water Restrictions Continue Despite Rain

Leesburg –Despite recent rain, LCSA continues the call for mandatory restrictions, and, with forecasts for at or below normal precipitation through the winter, County officials plan to keep them in place for awhile. “We’re in this for the long haul,” says General Manager Dale Hammes. “Thanks to cooperation from our customers, demand dropped in October to a level that will be manageable throughout the winter, but we’ll need continued cooperation.” LCSA offers the following as reminders of what is permitted and not permitted under the ordinance:

Permitted

Watering any kind of vegetation may be done using a container of three gallons or less.
New grass or sod (where it did not exist previously) or vegetation planted since September 1, 2007 may be watered on an odd-even schedule (not daily).You do not need a waiver for this, but you will need to produce dated receipts for the sheriff to avoid a citation.
Washing automobiles, trucks, trailers or other mobile equipment, using a container of three gallons or less.
Using commercial car wash facilities is permitted.
Washing streets, driveways, parking lots, service station aprons, the exterior of commercial or residential buildings or any other outdoor surfaces using a container of three gallons or less.
Service of drinking water (from the tap) in restaurants is permitted only when it is specifically requested.


Not Permitted

Watering any established lawn or vegetation with a hose, sprinkler or irrigation system.
Watering a lawn, even if only in partial, because the whole lawn, or a portion of it, has been over-seeded. Requests for waivers for overseeding have been denied by the County Administrator.
Power washing. Requests for waivers to power wash have been denied by the County Administrator.
The operation of an ornamental fountain, or filling swimming/wading pools.
LCSA would also like to remind residents that there are some places within its service area that are not subject to these restrictions (map available at www.lcsa.org), including the common areas of some large communities such as Belmont, Broadlands, Lansdowne, South Riding, Stone Ridge and University Center. These communities either use a groundwater fed well to irrigate common areas and keep fountains full, or they have an alternative surface water supply. Private homes within these communities must comply. Some large commercial customers, like Verizon, and Beaumeade Industrial Park, on Loudoun County Parkway, also have an alternative water supply that feeds fountains and irrigates their large campuses. Other properties that fall into this category not currently on the map can be added by contacting LCSA.

Other exempted customers include golf courses and nurseries, who can only stay open if permitted to use water (and who typically do not use LCSA water to do so); and builders or developers at active construction projects, who need water to fulfill building and occupancy permits for activities such as soil compaction, brick laying, system flushing, and the laying of new sod.

Full or partial waivers from these restrictions may be granted at the discretion of the County Administrator, in consultation with LCSA. To be considered for a waiver, download a Request For Waiver at www.lcsa.org and submit to LCSA.

Violating these restrictions is a Class III misdemeanor and carries a $500 fine for each instance. Repeat violators may have their water service shut off for a period of up to five (5) days, under the County Administrator’s discretion.

To report a violation that is in progress, you may contact the Sheriff directly at 703-777-1021 or you can report a violation to LCSA, which will be forwarded to the Sheriff, by emailing drought@lcsa.org or by leaving a message at 571-291-7870. Provide a street address, time and date of the violation. 

                                                                      
By Samantha Villegas, Manager of Communications


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